The University of Arizona says plans for a residence hall in Tucson have changed significantly: Originally planned as a 19-story building, it will now stand just nine stories tall.
The Arizona Daily Star reports that the plan also calls for an increased capacity of 1,300 beds, up from the originally projected 1,200.
The residence hall is still scheduled to open in fall 2028 and is to include a dining hall.
"The reconfigured plan makes more efficient use of the property and also allows us to increase the new dorm's capacity," university spokesperson Mitch Zak said
The university has undertaken the $250 million project in partnership with the nonprofit Collegiate Housing Foundation. The 2.49-acre property, where the Palm Shadows Apartments sat until they were recently razed, will be combined with an adjacent university-owned property of 0.5 acres to house the project.
The new housing is part of an effort to ask first-year, full-time students to live in on-campus housing. University President Suresh Garimella said at an Arizona Board of Regents meeting in February that a new, modern residence hall will help Arizona retain and graduate students.
The university has capacity for more than 7,200 beds in existing residence halls, but it plans to decommission some older housing that has costly maintenance needs.
